The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-11-16
THE cANNssAL ISLANDS.


names. TIE English sailors cali them
4.The Twins" the American saiior CALI
them "Punch and Judy" They are
down on the English sailing charts OF a
few vcarsaeo as ~The Big and Little Can
nibals." with note Of warming that all
boats sent on shore should be armed, a.
the natives are trescherous lot and eat
human flesh
In the wear 1875 took a first mate :
berth out Of San Francisco on the brig
Harry Lee. sine hayin. lHen sold TO par
ties in Honolulu and The owners having
engaged 10 deliver her there We had
40 trouble ia shipping good crew and
better Weaiher never SAW until We We're
within two davs' run of our port Then
we got a gale which dismasted us and
swept two men overheard; and when We
finally brought up it was under the lee OF
the Big Cannibal, in sheltered bay,
with mass and sails gone, bulwarks
nearly all swept away. bowsprit broken
of. and the brig leaking 50 that we had
TO take long spells a, the pump to keep
her afioai. We bad not been able to Sc
cure an observation for three days, and
although quite certain that We had fallen
in with one Of the Sandwich group, none
Of us had ever seen this particular island
before. But for the help Of a very pow
erful current which caught the brig as
she was being hurled upon the weather
side Of the island not a man Of us would
have lived 10 tell the story Thlscurrent
ran us along the shor and xhirled us
into bay on ie lee side, where our an
chors found good holding ground, and
brought US up in safety
Ii wa two DAYS before the storm blew
itself out and the sea went down. We
Law within half mile Of the shore, and
had seen people on the beach every hour
in the day. At night they had built fires
opposite our berth, as if 70 say that they
were oar friends and to encourage us To
be Of stout heart From this circum-
stance our captain argued that we had
not been driven to the west as far ~ had
been supposed, and that We had at least
two islands between us and the Big Can
nibal When the sea had gone down SUI
ticieut o. warrant a. IN lowering a boat |
Vas ordered To- take the yawl and four
men and pull for the beach and ascertain
ont whereabouts. The weather had con
tinued dark and cloudy and no observa-
ton coulu be taken. ! went awey IN the
boat without the slightest misgiyings, and
without a firearm of any description.
We had settled il that there was nothing
10 fear, and | anticipated no trouble in
engaging a native craft to run for some of
the island ports and secure ns the seryic-
g. Of a steam craft
Almost opposite where the hull of the
brig lay pitching at her anchor was the
mouth of creek, and, although there
was bar and the surf was rolling pretty
high, We entered the creek without acci-
dent Just as We were going over The
bar it struck me as curious that none of
the natives had been out TO visit us. III
wouldn't have been anything extra of
swim for a native, while their little crafts
will live in sea which would roll man
of war rails under II was now 10 clock
in ie forenoon, and | remembered that
We had not seen native on the beach
since soon after daylight There was no
one in sight now, and We ran up the creek
about a cables length and grounded.
There were two native boats there but
not a person in sight ! reasoned that a
village must be close at hand, and, leav-
ing two of the men To care for the boat, /
follow broad and well beaten path,
which believed led to the village. In
this was correct We had not gone
above half mile when We came to the
village. We had scarcely caught sight of
the first huts when we were ourselves dis
covered, and three minutes later were
surrounded by 100 dusky people an
ticipaied a friendly welcome, and was
good deal put out at our reception. Most
of the people were old men, women and
children. There were not above five or
siN middle aged men. The circle was at
once formed about ns, and as soon AZ
they saw that We were not armed We
and foot. had served with kanakas
aboard of whalers, and knew the dialect
ofthe islanders pretty we'll. II Was there
fore with horror that ] soon learned We
were on Big Canmhal island, and that
the natives were greatly rejoiced at the
prospect of the feast before them. | at
tempted to say something, but the noise
oftheir shouts drowned my words, and
each of us was hustled off by himselfto a
different hut.
was taken in hand by two stout fel-
lows, and when thrust into an empty hut
| turned on them and asked for an ex-
PLANTATION. They were dumbfounded to
hear me using their dialect, and at once
exhibited a more friendly demeanor.
They had expected the brig to drive
ashore, and when she did not they feared
she had too big crew for them Ia attack
They wanted 10 know where she WAS
from, how many men she had aboard and
what her captain proposed doing. told
them nay object in coming ashore, but
they at once gave me 10 understand they
would do nothing Ii would be far bet
ter for them if the brig was to drive
ashore. offered a. high az $500 in gold
il they would get word of our condition
10 some civilized port, hut the fellows
were immovable. They were set of out
laws, and held no intercourse except with
the smaller island. A ship touched at
the islands now and then for water or
vegetables. but the natives kept out Of
sight and would do no trading with the
sailors. When asked after the rest Of
the villagers they replied than upward Of
forty men We're at the smaller island.
where wreck had driven ashore about
two weeks before. but were expected
nome next day.
And what do you propose 10 do with
me-" finally inquired
Roast and eat YOU" WAS the curt ne
ply, as they fastened the door and left
me alone
Ii seemed more than likely. Why
they had not gone Ia the creek to ATTACK <
and capture the salon and the yawl |
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